Our Values

Our values are both a statement of what we believe is important as well as an action plan on how we might achieve those beliefs. We embrace eight values that drive and determine how we seek to fulfill the Great Commission in the Bowling Green area. To know our values is to know E.A.S.T.W.O.O.D.

Evangelism and missions – We value personal and corporate evangelism. Believing that the gospel is necessary for salvation and that every Christian is called to be a witness, we strive to intentionally program for culturally relevant yet doctrinally pure methods of corporate evangelism and to equip and mobilize individual believers to engage the culture and be effective, proactive witnesses in the Bowling Green area and beyond. Believing that people who die without Christ are eternally lost and separated from Christ we commit to strive with great urgency to make Christ known (Matthew 5:13-16; 28:19-20; John 3:3; Romans 10:14-17). We view missions as the other half of an effective evangelism strategy. As such we value local, national, and international missions. Compelled by the Great Commission, we encourage all Eastwood members to become on-mission Christians by financially giving to missions as well as participating in short-term and long-term mission opportunities (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).

Authority of Scripture – We value the Holy Scriptures as the divinely inspired, infallible Word of God and as the final authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice. We value living a life of faithful obedience to God’s Word. We accept the Baptist Faith and Message as revised in 2000 as a confession of our beliefs (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalm 19:7-10; 19:11, 89; Matthew 5:17-18; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:24-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

Sunday School – We value the teaching of the Bible as being essential in reaching and developing people for Christ. Believing that the open-group strategy of Sunday School is the most effective means for fulfilling the Great Commission on a consistent basis, we encourage every member to be actively involved in a Sunday School class (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Tithing and Personal Stewardship – We value the biblical principle of the tithe and personal stewardship. Believing that the tithe is God’s plan for providing for His church, we choose not to participate in other means of fund-raising. Believing that every good thing comes from God, we teach the tithe and personal stewardship of our lives and our resources as foundational to true Christian obedience (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21; Malachi 3:8-11).

Worship that is Authentic – We value worship as a time to celebrate who we are in Christ. As individuals bearing His Holy Spirit and as a corporate body drawn together by that Spirit we gather on the first day of every week to celebrate our risen Lord. We strive for excellence in all that we do including our corporate worship as we believe this honors God and inspires people. Corporate worship we believe should result in people sensing God’s presence, hearing His voice, and willingly responding to His call. Believing that prayer is vital to the life of the believer we consistently strive to develop our prayer life both corporately and individually. We also believe that lives lived in daily Christ-like obedience is the truest and greatest expression of our worship (Psalm 100; John 4:23-24; Romans 12:1-2).

Obedient Proclamation of the Word – We value the biblical practice of the preaching of God’s Word. Believing that God still uses the relevant preaching of His Word to transform lives, expository preaching remains the priority of our corporate worship (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24-25). Through consistent preaching of the whole counsel of God we believe every member should be motivated to ministry. Understanding that the Bible teaches that every Christian is gifted and called to serve, we seek to lead Christians in discovering their God-given gifts and to equip them for their place of service within the Body of Christ. Thus, we value leadership that honors God in preparing people to do ministry through the development of their spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:11-13).

On-going Loving Fellowship – We value Christian fellowship and intentionally seek to create opportunities to build meaningful relationships with other believers in which needs are met and individuals are encouraged to grow to be more like Christ. We desire to be a friendly congregation among which guests feel loved and accepted. These loving relationships that are built through fellowship serve to strengthen and encourage the body of Christ in the spirit of unity. (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24-25).

Directed Discipleship – We value continuous personal spiritual growth in the life of the believer and believe that all Christians should be seeking to grow more Christ-like on a daily basis. Through directed programming and personal interaction, we desire to teach and model authentic faith in order to develop healthy, whole disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:11-13, Colossians 1:28; Hebrews 6:1).